Backflow security enclosure

ABSTRACT

A backflow security enclosure for maintained equipment is disclosed. The security enclosure includes a plurality of side panels joinable along an adjacent edge with an elongate rod. The elongate rod is received in a channel of a plurality of sockets disposed in a spaced apart relation along an adjacent edge of the plurality of panels. The plurality of sockets may be arranged in a hinge type configuration. A top panel is supported by the plurality of side panels when joined. A locking mechanism secures the top panel to at least one of the plurality of side panels. The side panels may be secured to a ground or wall surface to surround the equipment to be repaired or serviced by a technician.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to backflow security enclosures, and moreparticularly to backflow security enclosures for maintained equipment.

Available backflow security enclosures for maintained equipment need tobe completely removed in order for a service technician to test orrepair the equipment they are protecting. For larger industrialequipment, these backflow security enclosures are too big and too heavya single service technician to handle them.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved backflow securityenclosure for maintained equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a backflow security enclosure,such as for a piece of maintained equipment is disclosed. The securityenclosure includes a plurality of side panels joinable to definesidewalls of the security enclosure. Each of the plurality of sidepanels has a plurality of sockets defined in a spaced apart relationalong an interior adjacent edge of the plurality of side panels. A rodreceived through a channel defined through the socket to selectivelyjoin or unjoin the plurality of side panels. A top panel is supported onthe plurality of side panels when joined.

A locking mechanism is provided to secure the top panel to the pluralityof side panels, when joined.

The channel is positioned on an interior space of the security enclosurewhen the plurality of side panels are joined.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of side panels includes aframe and a mesh suspended within the frame. Preferably, the frame isformed of a metal. Preferably, the mesh is selected from a wire mesh oran expanded metal plate.

In some embodiments, the top panel includes a frame and a mesh suspendedwithin the frame. Preferably, the frame is formed of a metal.Preferably, the mesh is selected from a wire mesh or an expanded metalplate as well.

In some embodiments, a plurality of apertures are formed in a spacedapart relation along a bottom frame element of one or more of theplurality of side panels. The plurality of apertures are dimensioned toreceive a fastener to secure the security enclosure to one or more of aground or a wall surface.

In other embodiments, the locking mechanism further includes a lockingtab protruding from the top panel, the locking tab having a lockingaperture defined therethrough, the locking aperture dimensioned toreceive a hasp of a lock. In some embodiments, a corresponding lockingtab protruding from at least one of the plurality of side panels. Inother embodiments, a slot is defined along a top margin of at least oneof the plurality of side panels, the slot is dimensioned to receive thelocking tab.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the backflow security enclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the backflow securityenclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded detail perspective view of an end & a side panelof the backflow security enclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of an end of the second embodimentof the backflow security enclosure.

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective of the opposite end of the secondembodiment of the backflow security enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides an improvedsecurity enclosure for maintained equipment. As seen in reference to thedrawings of FIGS. 1-5, a security enclosure 10 is disclosed. Thesecurity enclosure 10 comprises a plurality of side panels 10 a, 10 bselectively joined with an elongate rod 18, or at least one pin. A toppanel 10 c, or lid, is coupled to the plurality of side panels via alocking tab 16 and a locking slot 16 a that are configured to secure thetop panel 10 c to the joined plurality of sidewalls 10 a, 10 b.

The plurality of side panels 10 a, 10 b are formed by a high strengthside panel frame 12 a, 12 b with a tamper resistant mesh 14 suspended inthe side panel frame 12 a, 12 b. Likewise, the top pane 10 c is formedof a high strength top panel frame 12 c with a tamper resistant mesh 14suspended in the top panel frame 12 c. By way of non-limiting example,the high strength top panel frame 12 c and side panel frame 12 a, 12 bmay be formed of metal or steel. The mesh 14 may be selected from thegroup consisting of a steel wire mesh, an expanded metal plate, and aperforated metal plate. The weight of the frames 12 a-12 c may bereduced by having flat frame members, rather than I-beam or similarmembers, with a flange 13 extending along a bottom edge of the frame 12a, 12 b. The top panel 10 c may be fitted with a handle 24 to facilitateinstallation and removal of the top panel 10 c from the securityenclosure 10.

As will be appreciated, the security enclosure 10 may be formed in anydesired shape to contain the equipment the security enclosure 10 isintended to protect. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the securityenclosure 10 has a house or barn shape. The security enclosure 10 mayalso be formed in a rectangular, square, or other polyhedral shape.

Each of the plurality of side panels 10 a, 10 b include a socket 18 a,18 b attached to the ends of the frame 12 a, 12 b. The socket 18 a, 18 bon adjacent panels of the plurality of side panels 10 a, 10 b are offsetin a hinge type arrangement so that a channel defined through the socket18 a of a first side panel 10 a is axially aligned with the socket 18 bof an adjacent side panel 10 b when the side panels 10 a, 10 b areplaced for joining. By way of example, an upper socket 18 a ispositioned above a lower socket 18 b. Depending on the size of thebackflow security enclosure 10, a plurality of sockets 18 a, 18 b may bedisposed in a spaced apart relation along the frame 12 a, a2 b of theplurality of side panels 10 a, 10 b.

The frame 12 a, 12 b of the side panels 10 a, 10 b may include aplurality of mounting holes 27 formed through a bottom frame element.The plurality of mounting holes may be utilized to secure the backflowsecurity enclosure 10 to a floor surface supporting the securedequipment.

A top edge of the side panel frame 12 a, 12 b may include a plurality ofsupport posts 20 disposed in a spaced apart relation along the sidepanel frame 12 a, 12 b. The plurality of support posts 20 aredimensioned to support the top panel 10 c in position atop the pluralityof side panels 10 a, 10 b, when they are assembled to form the backflowsecurity enclosure 10.

Non-limiting embodiments of the top panel 10 c, and various lockconfigurations are shown in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In a first lockconfiguration, a locking tab 22 b and 22 c are provided on each of thetop panel 10 c and side panel 10 b at a first end of the enclosure. Thelocking tab 22 b and 22 c are configured for a locking aperture 22 d tobe axially aligned in the locking tab 22 b and 22 c when the top panel10 c is placed on the security enclosure 10. The locking aperture isdimensioned to receive a hasp of a conventional lock to secure the toppanel 10 c to the security enclosure 10. In a second embodiment, a topedge of the top panel may include a locking tab 26 a. In this embodimenta slot 26 c is defined through a top martin of the side panel frame 12b. The slot 26 c is dimensioned to receive the locking tab 26 atherethrough. A locking aperture 26 b is defined through the locking tab26 a and is dimensioned to receive a hasp of a conventional lock.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A backflow security enclosure, comprising: aplurality of side panels joinable to define sidewalls of the securityenclosure, each of the plurality of side panels having a socket definedin a spaced apart relation along an interior adjacent edge of theplurality of side panels, a rod received through a channel definedthrough the socket to selectively join or unjoin the plurality of sidepanels; and a top panel supported on the plurality of side panels whenjoined.
 2. The backflow security enclosure of claim 1, furthercomprising: a locking mechanism to secure the top panel to the pluralityof side panels, when joined.
 3. The backflow security enclosure of claim1, wherein the channel is positioned on an interior space of thesecurity enclosure when the plurality of side panels are joined.
 4. Thebackflow security enclosure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality ofside panels comprises: a frame; and a mesh suspended within the frame.5. The backflow security enclosure of claim 4, wherein the frame isformed of a metal.
 6. The backflow security enclosure of claim 4,wherein the mesh is selected from the group consisting of a steel wiremesh, an expanded metal plate, and a perforated metal plate.
 7. Thebackflow security enclosure of claim 1, wherein the top panel furthercomprises: a frame; and a mesh suspended within the frame.
 8. Thebackflow security enclosure of claim 7, wherein the frame is formed of ametal.
 9. The backflow security enclosure of claim 8, wherein the meshis selected from the group consisting of a steel wire mesh, an expandedmetal plate, and a perforated metal plate.
 10. The backflow securityenclosure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of aperturesformed in a spaced apart relation along a bottom frame element of one ormore of the plurality of side panels, the plurality of aperturesdimensioned to receive a fastener to secure the backflow securityenclosure to one or more of a ground or a wall surface.
 11. The backflowsecurity enclosure of claim 2, the locking mechanism further comprising:a locking tab protruding from the top panel, the locking tab having alocking aperture defined therethrough, the locking aperture dimensionedto receive a hasp of a lock.
 12. The backflow security enclosure ofclaim 11, further comprising: a corresponding locking tab protrudingfrom at least one of the plurality of side panels.
 13. The backflowsecurity enclosure of claim 12 further comprising: a slot defined alonga top margin of at least one of the plurality of side panels, the slotdimensioned to receive the locking tab.